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The Democrat-led House Appropriations Defense subcommittee released a $690.2 billion fiscal 2020 draft spending bill Tuesday that would sharply restrict DOD’s ability to transfer funds within accounts, according to CQ. The draft bill allocates a 2% increase over fiscal 2019 defense spending with $622.1 billion for the DOD’s base budget and $68.1 billion for Pentagon

The Senate is looking toward a vote next week on a disaster aid package, according to a Tuesday CQ report. The multibillion-dollar bill has not been finalized, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he still has hopes for a disaster relief package by the Memorial Day recess. “We’re going to have a vote

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) endorsed Acting Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist Tuesday to become the next permanent deputy defense secretary, according to CQ. “I’m very strongly in support of Norquist,” Inhofe told the outlet. “I’ve had a chance to talk to the president about Norquist,” he said. Norquist became acting deputy defense

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan visited McAllen, Texas, Saturday and said he intends to accelerate border security planning while working to bolster the administration’s border activities without requiring endless DOD help, AP reported. During the brief visit Shanahan offered assurances that the Pentagon has no plans to end its military support early. “We’re not going

This week the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee will begin finalizing its fiscal 2020 defense bill with a full markup session Wednesday morning. Here is a roundup of the important hearings taking place on Capitol Hill this week: House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee closed-door markup of fiscal 2020 bill, Weds., 10 a.m House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing